Cotton weighing device for cotton gin balers



July 22, 1952 R. A. sHlPLEY Er AL, 2,604,035

COTTON WEIGHING DEVICE FOR COTTON GIN BALERS Filed Feb. 19, 1951 FIG. 2. FlG. 3. 6

FRED E. WORDEN R. A. SHI PLEY IN VEN TORS ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE COTTON WEIGHING DEVICE FOR COTTON -GIN BALERS Robert A. Shipley and Fred E. Worden, Loop, Tex.

Application February 19, 1951, Serial No. 211,676

s claims. 01. 10o- 99) This invention relates to cotton v.gins and has reference to a double box revolving baling press. Generally, such presses are comprised of a. pair of press boxes journaled on a center post positioned therebetween, and as the cotton in one box is being pressed and tied, the remaining box is being filled with lint cotton. After the baled cotton is removed from the box it is baled in, the formed boxes are revolved to position the previously empty Vbox to receive the lint cotton, and to position the iilled box for pressing and-tying.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the cotton may be weighed as it is received inthe box being lled, and whereby the resulting bales may be of uniform weight and size for convenience in storing, handling and shipping.

These ond other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a broken elevation and sectional view of a double box baling press embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken elevation and sectional view taken at a right angle with respect to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical broken sectional View of the weighing apparatus employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a broken vertical sectional view showing the position of the follower block supporting roller of one of the press boxes when the latter is over the baling ram.

The numeral ID designates a cotton gin floor supporting a press frame II comprised of a vertical member I2 and a horizontal beam I3 extending from the upper end of the latter. A vertical center post I4 is secured between the horizontal beam I3 and the floor III, and is spaced from the vertical member I2 at a distance to permit the press boxes I5 to be moved into position therebetween. Each box I5 is rectangular in cross section and both the top and bottom ends are open. The sides of the boxes I5 adjacent the center post I4, and the sides remote therefrom, are comprised of vertically positioned spaced boards I6 which are secured to form the respective sides by means of'transverse cleats I'I and I8 along their upper and lower ends. Intermediate transverse cleats I9 and 20 are secured to the boards I6 in side by side relation below the centers of the boxes I5. The remaining sides of the boxes I5 are comprised of upper and lower panels 2I and 22, the lower said panel being rigidly secured to the box assembly by means of upper and lower cleats 23 and 24 which are nailed or otherwise secured to the previously described adjacent lower cleats I8 and 20. In addition `to the cleats 23 and 24, the lower panels 22 include vertical boards 25, arranged as described in connection with the rst referred to boards I6. The upper panels 2| are similarly comprised of vertical boards v26 which are secured to each other by upper and lower horizontal cleats 21 and '28 which coincide with the rst described upper cleats II and I9. The adjacent cleats 28 and 23 of the upper and 1ower panels 2I and 22 are pivotally secured to each other by means of hinges 29, whereas the corners of the stationary cleats I"I and the upper panel cleats 2l are secured by means of hasps 30, or other suitable latching means.

The two press boxes I5 are mounted for rotation about the center post I4 by means of upper and lower arms 3| and 32 having bearings 33 and 34 intermediate their ends, and which bearings are j ournaled onthe post I'4.

A collar 35 is secured to the post I4 beneath the lower arm 32 for supporting the press box assembly. Preferably, the supporting arms 3I and 32 are secured to the cleats I 'I andfI8 ,on the opposing sides of the boxes I5.

A stationary platen 36 comprised of heavy spaced parallel horizontal boards 31 is secured to the lower surface of the horizontal beam I3 and the area of which platen is slightly larger than the horizontal transverse area of each box I5. Beneath the platen 36, and arranged for operation through an opening 38 in the floor I0 there is a hydraulic baling ram 39 comprised of a piston 40 having a horizontal substantially square head 4I secured to the upper end thereof by means of a collar '42. A rectangular follower plate 43` rests on the ram head 4I and is arranged for supporting the lint cotton 45 contained within the press boxes I5. It is to be understood that there is one follower plate 43 for each said box.

One of the boxes I5 is lled with lint-cotton 45 when positioned outwardly from the baling ram 39 by mechanical means, not shown, and after which the cotton may be initially ypressed downwardly in said box by means of an additional tramping ram 46 comprised of a piston 41 and relatively large head 48 on the lower end thereof. The movement of both described rams 39 and 46 is sufficient to clear the lower and upper ends of the press boxes I5. Bagging 49 is placed over the surface of the follower plate 43 in the box I5 to be filled, and after the action of the tramping ram 46, additional bagging 49 is placed over the cotton 45 and the outwardly positioned box I5 is then rotated about the center post I4 to position the same over the press ram 39. The action of the baling ram presses the cotton upwardly into the upper end of the box l5, and after which the ties 50 are placed and secured around both cotton and bagging in the usual manner. After pressing and tying, the resulting bale is removed by unfastening the hasps 30 and swinging open the upper panels 2|, by reversing the action of the press ram 39, and by then sliding the bale off of the follower plates 43. During the pressing operation the remaining box I5 is being filled with cotton.

The thus far described baling press is exemplary and not necessarily a part of the present invention.

The follower plates 43 are supported in the boxes I5 by means of spaced bars or beams 5I spaced farther apart than the width of the press ram head 4I whereby the latter may pass upwardly therebetween and lift said follower plate during the pressing operation. The bars 5| extend through notches 52 in the boards I6 in the sides of the boxes I5 and are pivotally mounted on the sides thereof adjacent the center post I4 by means of hinges 53 secured to said boards. The outer ends of the bars 5I are secured to each other by means of cross members in the form of spaced angle irons 54 which rotatably support a roller 55 therebetween. A pin 56 positioned through each pair of angle irons 54 rotatably supports at least one roller 55.

A platform type weighing scale 5l is mounted within a well 58 in the floor I6. Any suitable scale may be employed, but for the purpose of describing the invention a hydraulic scale is shown and includes four vertical guides 69 mounted on I-beams 59. Sleeves 6I are slidably mounted on the guides 69 and are secured to the lower side of a platform 62. A cylindrical container 63 is also supported on the beams 59 and is positioned between the sleeves 6 I. An annular plate 64 is mounted within and spaced from the upper end of the container 63. The fluid 65 contained therein is hermetically sealed by means of a flat resilient ring 66 which is secured in place by means of a retaining ring 61 around its outer periphery and bolts 68 passing therethrough and threadedly engaged in the upper end of said container. The inner periphery of the resilient ring 65 is secured by another retaining ring 69 and bolts 'I0 passing therethrough and threadedly engaged in the periphery of the annular plate 64. A hydraulic line II through the wall of the container 53 communicates the fluid 65 with an indicator 'I2 for registering the weight of cotton within the box -I 5 when the latters roller is positioned on the scale platform 62. There is a rigid projection I3 connecting the upper center of the annular plate 64 with the lower center of the platform 62 for carrying out the last described weighing operation.

In operation, the cotton may be weighed as it is placed in the box I5 receiving the same, and whereby the resulting bales may be made of uniform size for convenience in handling, storing and shipping. It is pointed out that in the preferred form of the invention the rollers 55 are located outwardly of the press boxes, such rollers may be placed beneath the boxes when desired 4 without parting from the scope and intention of the invention.

The present invention is not limited to the specific construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary baling press having at least one press box arranged for movement around a vertical axis positioned outwardly thereof, a follower plate within the lower end of said box, supporting means for said follower plate comprising a pair of spaced parallel beams hingedly secured at corresponding ends thereof to one side of said box and having the remaining ends thereof connected by at least one cross member rigidly secured therebetween, a roller mounted on said cross member and adapted to roll on a horizontal surface beneath said box, there being a well in said horizontal surface and containing a platform scale therein, the platform of said scale being substantially level with the horizontal surface and being positioned within the path of said roller.

2. In a rotary baling press having at least one press box for movement around a vertical axis positioned outwardly thereof, a follower plate positioned within the lower end of said box, a pair of spaced parallel beams hingedly secured to the lower end of said box and on the side thereof adjacent said vertical axis, the remaining ends of said beams being arranged for at least limited hinged movement beneath said box, at least one cross member rigidly secured beneath said beams at a location spaced from the referred to hinged connection of said beams, a roller mounted on and projecting downwardly from said cross member and adapted to roll on a horizontal surface beneath said box, and a platform scale within the path of said roller and having the upper surface of the platform arranged to receive said roller thereon.

3. In a rotary baling press having a pair of press boxes pivotally mounted on a vertically positioned center post therebetween and having a vertical press ram in a floor beneath said boxes, the combination of a beam assembly beneath each said box and hingedly secured thereto on the side thereof adjacent said center post, the sides of said beam assembly being spaced from each other so as to provide a space for receiving said ram therethrough, a roller mounted on and depending from said beam assembly and adapted to roll on said door, and a platform scale mounted within said floor and located within the path of said roller.

ROBERT A. SHIPLEY. FRED E. WORDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 309,285 Bennett Dec. 16, 1884 636,160 Mitchell Oct. 31, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 136,101 Austria Jan. 10, 1934 

